About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing the daunting transition to middle school and feels like their oldest friendships are suddenly shifting or slipping away. It perfectly captures the specific anxiety of a best friend finding a new social circle, leaving your child feeling like they missed the memo on how to be 'cool.' Jenny McAfee is starting middle school and expects her best friend Addie to be by her side, but Addie has joined the 'Pops' (the popular group) and suddenly Jenny is the odd one out. The story explores themes of social hierarchy, the pain of being left behind, and the courage it takes to find a new place to belong. It is a reassuring, humorous, and highly relatable read for any 8 to 12 year old navigating the messy middle school social scene.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with social exclusion and peer pressure. The approach is direct and secular. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, focusing on finding new friends rather than a magical reconciliation with the old best friend.
